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S 1101 106th Congress Senate

Gun Dealer Responsibility Act of 1999

Official title: A bill to provide for tort liability of firearms dealers who transfer firearms in violation of Federal firearms law.

Introduced: May 20, 1999 Introduced by: Reed, Jack Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
Law Civil actions and liabilityCommerceCrime and Law EnforcementDamages
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
District courtsFirearmsFirearms controlFirearms injuriesJurisdictionLegal feesProducts liabilityRetail tradeTorts
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 1999
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
May 20, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5763-5764)
May 20, 1999
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action May 20, 1999

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Gun Dealer Responsibility Act of 1999 - Authorizes any person suffering bodily injury as a result of the discharge of a firearm (or the estate of a person who is incapacitated or deceased) to bring an action for damages and other appropriate relief in U.S. district court against any dealer who transferred the firearm in violation of Federal firearms law. Directs the court to allow a prevailing plaintiff a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.

Directs that the defendant in such an action be held liable in tort, without regard to fault or proof of defect, for all direct and consequential damages that arise from bodily injury or death proximately resulting from the illegal sale of a firearm if it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant transferred the firearm to any person in violation of Federal law, with exceptions if it is established that: (1) the plaintiff suffered the injury while committing a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; and (2) the injury was suffered as a result of the discharge, by a law enforcement officer in the performance of official duties, of a firearm issued by the United States or any State.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1101: Gun Dealer Responsibility Act of 1999. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-1101/
MLA
"S. 1101: Gun Dealer Responsibility Act of 1999." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-1101/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1101, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-1101/.
Markdown link
[S. 1101: Gun Dealer Responsibility Act of 1999](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-1101/)
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